Balaam’s Fourth Message

15 Then he spoke his message:

“The prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,
    the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,
16 the prophecy of one who hears the words(A) of God,
    who has knowledge from the Most High,(B)
who sees a vision from the Almighty,
    who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:

17 “I see him, but not now;
    I behold him, but not near.(C)
A star will come out of Jacob;(D)
    a scepter will rise out of Israel.(E)
He will crush the foreheads of Moab,(F)
    the skulls[a](G) of[b] all the people of Sheth.[c]
18 Edom(H) will be conquered;
    Seir,(I) his enemy, will be conquered,(J)
    but Israel(K) will grow strong.
19 A ruler will come out of Jacob(L)
    and destroy the survivors of the city.”

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Footnotes

  1. Numbers 24:17 Samaritan Pentateuch (see also Jer. 48:45); the meaning of the word in the Masoretic Text is uncertain.
  2. Numbers 24:17 Or possibly Moab, / batter
  3. Numbers 24:17 Or all the noisy boasters

Balaam’s Final Prophecies

15 Then Balaam[a] uttered this prophetic statement:

“The declaration by Beor’s son Balaam,
    a declaration by the strong, blind man.
16 A declaration from one who hears what God has to say,
    who knows what the Most High knows,
who saw the vision that the Almighty revealed,
    who keeps stumbling with open eyes.

17 I can see him,
    but not right now.
I observe him,
    but from a distance.[b]

A star streams forth from Jacob;
    a scepter arises from Israel.
He will crush Moab’s forehead,
    along with all of Seth’s descendants.
18 Edom will be a conquered nation
    and Seir will be Israel’s[c] defeated foe,
        while Israel performs valiantly.
19 He will rule over Jacob,
    annihilating those who survive in the city.”

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Footnotes

  1. Numbers 24:15 Lit. he
  2. Numbers 24:17 Lit. but not nearby
  3. Numbers 24:18 Lit. his